Process for making imitation gold or colored leaf.



. M. E. msoiiif PROCESS FOR MAKING IMITATION GOLD 0R COLORED LEAF.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2. 1915.

Patented 001:. 26, 1915.

QHEETS-SHEET l.

K. E OLSON. PROCESS FOR MAKING IMITATION GOLD 0R COLORED LEAF.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2. HHS.

Patented. Oct. 26, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- awvevviioz vvllrl I! l/ I 1 KARL E. OLSON, 0F IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY.

PROCESS FOR MAKING IMITATION GOLD OR COLORED LEAF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Uet. 26, 1915.

Application filed March 2, 1915. Serial No. 11,635.

To all/whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, KARL E. OLSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the town of Irvington, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for Making Imitation Golder Colored Leaf, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in processes for making an imitation gold or colored leaf.

One object of the invention is to provide a leaf having a high degree of self-adhesiveness when heated and which at the same time is pliant, may be easily manufactured,

may be handled in the ordinary Way with-' out danger of breaking to pieces, and when used commercially, for example, in bookbinding, shall present the desirable characteristics of brilliancy, luster, covering power, etc.

Further, the object is to form a leaf having the desirable characteristics mentioned, which in the process of stamp ng in bookbinding may be readily brushed away from the dies.

These obj cts of the invention are atta ned by the steps herein described and claimed, the preferred apparatus for the manufacture ofthe leaf forming the Sub ect-matter of a divisional application, Serial Number 42284, filed July 28, 1915, and the preferred form of leaf embodying the particular 1mprovements in leavesherein descr bed forming the subject-matter of my divislonal application Serial Number 51426, filed Sep-' tember 18,1915.

The invention comprises a process of forming a thin leaf or film contalnmga binder which will dry quite rapldly and aid in effecting the ready removal of the film from the support upon which it s formed, a coloring matter, and a relatively large amount of gum which possesses both blnding and adhesive qualities by continuous successive steps including the form1ng of a leaf upon a hard film support protectively coated with a material containing a volatile solvent, the drying of the film and its stripping, preferably employing therein an apparatus for preliminarily coating the hard film support, for'treating the support with a film-forming substance, for conveying the support so treated to a drying chamber, and for bringing it to a position for stripping.

The preferred ingredients and the propor- I eight ounces.

tions used in producing the film are as follows: A solution of soluble cotton in amylcontaining about one ounce of soluble cotton is added two ounces of gum elemi dissolved-in one pint of thinner solution (a mixture of amylacetate and benzin'like the solvent for soluble cotton above). This mixture is then strained through a fine sieve and to it is added another pint of thinner solution. The solution so prepared measures two quarts, weighing approximately fifty- To this solution is added eight ounces of bronze powder. This mixture of ingredients constitutes the preferred leaf-forming material. It is to be understood, how'ever, that the proportions of the various constituents may be altered as desired for the various purposes of use for which the leaf is intended. 'It is also to be understood that other solvents may be employed than those mentioned and that other coloring matter than bronze powder may be used. It is preferable to keep the proportion of-gum somewhat in excess of the soluble cotton or other binder used in order to provide superior adhesiveness for the leaf. The proportion of gum to hinder as given above provides a leaf which will readily strip from" the support upon which it is formed and which in commercial use will possess the desirable properties mentioned above.

In using the ingredients as above indicated, a leaf has been obtained which upon iinalysis shows that its constitution is as folows:

Soluble cotton 6. 94% Gum elemi 11.03% Bronze" 80.36%

during analysis. This gum contains volatile matter at least part of which would, of course, be lost upon heating. It is to be further noted that the percentage of bronze shown on analysis is somewhat higher than would be expected by theoretical calculations, and the percentage of soluble cotton and gum elemi somewhat lower. This is probably due in large part to reaction between the bronze and the other ingredients mentioned giving substances not readily soluble or practically insoluble in the ordinary solvents for these substances.

In carrying out the process of my invention in its preferred form, I employ an apparatus of which an embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to these drawings: Figure 1 represents a sectional plan view of the apparatus on the line I-I of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 represents a sectional elevation taken on the line II II of Fig. 1'; Fig. 3 represents a sectional elevation taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 represents a front elevation of the apparatus viewed from the right of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation on the line VV of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a partial cross-sectional elevation on the tail view showing the stripping of a film from a film su port.

In the drawings, a series of film supports is shown, each support comprising a sheet of plate or other hard glass 1 to receive the film, and a rectangularframe 2 of oblong shape surrounding it to protect the glass and permit ready handling thereof. Glass or similar substance is chosen as the film support not only on account of its hardness, which gives to the film a brilliant surface, but also because in spraying, as hereinafter set forth, the density vof the leaf as it is being formed may be noted, whereby the thickness of the resulting leaf may be determined. By noting the outline of the particles in the leaf as revealed by the light passing through the glass and through the film, the characteristlcs and action of the spray may be ascertained also.

The method of forming the film upon the film support, of preparin it for stripping therefrom, and ultimate y executing the stripping action, ma be enerall stated as follows: The'glass l is fi rst treaed with a solution'contaming a volatile solvent. The volatile solvent is then evaporated, leaving a hard substantially dry .coatin thereon, The glass is then brought in rent of a spraying apparatus and the spraying mixture is -pro ected thereupon by means of an atomizer. After the film is sprayed upon the film support, it is carried through a drying chamber, through which a current of air is circulating, and dried. It is then deliverednpon-a framework outside the drying chamber, treated for-stripping and stripped.

'voir and the spraying nozzles.

having a Baum test of roller 8 at the opposite end of the conveyer and the roller 9, which is situated near the driving roller 7, and which with the roller 7 provides a decided pitch therebetween. The guide bars are suitably supported by up rights 10. Assuming that one of these film supports is in the position designated A in Fig. 1, that is, that it is justabout to be engaged by the rope conveyer for transmission thereby, the preliminary coating of the glass is accomplished by means of an automatically actuated sprayer apparatus positioned on a cross bar 11 held in place above the traveling film supports. This spraying apparatus consists of a reservoir 12 for the liquid to be sprayed, spray nozzles 13 arranged in a bank of four, thenozzles and the reservoir being supplied with air under line VI-VI of Fig. 1'; and Fig. 7 is a deordinary type of air-compressor.

In the pipe 14: is inserted a rotatable valve 15 whose rotatable member is actuated by a weight-controlled arm 16. The weight is adapted to hold the valve in closed osition, thus shutting off the air pressure f iom the reservoir. This weight-held arm, however, projects above the plane of the pathway which the film supports are caused to take when they rest upon the rope conveyer, and when the front edge of one of these film supports contacts with the projecting portion of the arm 16, it urges this arm downwardly against the weight and opens the valve 15,-thereby admitting air to the reser- The four nozzles, being directed downwardly to deliver a. spray upon the plates, are actuated by this means and continue to s ray the plates until the rear edge of the Elm support has passed over the arm 16, thereby releasing it and shutting off the spray until the next film support of the series contacts in a similar manner, and so on throughout the series.

The spraying liquid used in carrying out the preferred process is a solution of beeswax and gasolene, in the proportion of a half ounce of wax to a quart of gasolene, l approximately 66.5 at 69 degrees Fahrenheit.

In order-to evaporate the solvent these film supports are conducted immediately air from a fan through an opening herein after described.

In passing through the drying chamber the gasolene is driven off and the remaining wax leaves a hard substantially transparent blower 35, which is operated by the shaft covering upon the glass 1.-

Toward the delivery end of the rope conveyer, as heretofore mentioned, there is a distinct pitch between the rollers 9 and 7, this pitch being provided in order that the film supportsmay assume the position which they occupy when they are sprayed to form the leaf thereon. After passing through the drying chamber which terminates at the beginning of this pitch, the plates incline and finally come to rest against a cross bar positioned above the roller 7. From this point the film support may be moved laterally with respect to the guide bars 5 and 6 and entirely outcof the path of the rope conveyer to a position upon another rope conveyer consisting of the ropes 19 and 20 running along guide bars 21 and 22 and over rollers 23 and 24 positioned at the opposite ends of the conveyer and a roller 25 positioned with respect to roller 23 as roller 9 is to roller 7, in order to give the same pitch to the conveyer at this point. In sliding across from the first conveyer to the second one, the film supports are supported by cross bar 18 and transverse bars 27 over which the ropes of both conveyers run and which are arranged .with their upper faces at the same angle as the inclination (if the ropes.

The film supports having been placed in position upon the ropes 19 and 20 of the second conveyer, an ordinary type of air spraying apparatus comprising the reservoir 28 and spray nozzles 29 and 30 for air and liquid, respectively, is filled with the leafforming liquid mentioned in connection with the description of the leaf given in the first part of the specification. Air is supplied from an ordinary compressor apparatus and furnished to the air-spraying apparatus through a pipe 31, to which is also joined the pipe 14. When the finger 32 is lowered the air forces the liquid through the nozzle 29 and the liquid is atomized by air issuing from nozzle 30. The film support is allowed to move slowly upward with theropes of the conveyer, and at the same time the glass 1 of the support is covered with a coating from the spray by moving the reservoir with its nozzle attached thereto slowly back and ac forth. When the plate has been sprayed it passes into a second drying chamber and another film support is brought over from the first conveyer incline and placed in a position on the second conveyer, to be sprayed as heretofore related. I

In carrying on the spraying a good deal of volatile matter and bronze dust will of course be projected into the air above the face of the film support, and in order to avoid danger in connection with the liberation of these products, they are preferably sucked off through a hood 33, in the top of which is positioned a flue 34 leading to the -of the hood 33 is also provided with an opening closed by acurtain 38. After spraying the film support resting on the rope conveyer passes into the drying chamber 39. In order to stop the plate being sprayed on its way to the drying chamber, or in fact if it is desired to stop any or all of the plates at various points of the travel thereof, a stopping mechanism is employed which is operated from a position adjacent the hood. The stop mechanism controls the common driving means for the two rollers 7 and 23. This driving-means consists of a pair of tight and loose pulleys 40 mounted on the shaft 36 of the blower connected by a belt 41 with a pair of tight and loose pulleys 42 mounted on a shaft 43 below shaft 36. Mounted on shaft 43 is a third pulley 44 which transmits motion by means of a belt 45 to a pulley 46 on shaft 47, on which is mounted roller 23. Shaft 47 is supported at the pulley end by one of the uprights of the frame, and at the other end is provided .shifter 53 is employed mounted pivotally on the wall of the hood, to coact with the belt 41. The shifter is held by a spring 54, and in turn holds the belt in position to be driven. When the belt is thrown to the loose pulleys of the sets 40 and 42, the rollers 7 and 23, and thereby the rope conveyer systems, stop, The belt may be thrown bymeans of an arm 55 connected to the beltshifter 53.

It will be noted according to the construction,recited that the rollers 7 and $23 will rotate in opposite directions, thus driving the two rope conveyer systems in opposite directions, causing the films and film supports to go up one side and return the other, and thereby completing the cycle of operations.

The drying chamber 39, into which the which provides a communication between film-covered film supports pass is similar in shape and construction to the drying chamber 17, being rectangular andoblong in form. It is however slightly longer than the drying chamber 17 and overlaps it consequently at the end opposite the curtain 38. This drying chamber is provided with walls of cloth and is supported by suitable framework comprising uprights and cross bars 56. Its sides extend-downwardly as far as'the .guide bars 21 and 22. At the opposite end of the drying chamber and mounted on the framework therefor, at the extremity thereof, is a motor-driven fan 57, which serves to circulate air through the drying chamber 39, and also through the drying chamber 1.7 through the opening 58,

the two drying chambers. Upon emergence from the drying chamber 39 the film support passes onto and comes to rest upon an L-shaped platform 59 formed by the extensions of the guide bars for the two drying chambers and cross bars 60 extending therebetween. When the film emerges upon this platform, it is substantially dry. It is then -moved over to the opposite side of the platform from the drying chamber 39 and is prepared for stripping. This stripping is elfected by the wetting of the plate with a solution which according to the preferred process contains the following ingredients in the proportions stated: Gasolene, 7 fluid ounces, thinner solution containing amylacetate and other soluble cotton solvents, one ounce, wax, one-sixteenth ounce. The film having been thoroughly wet with this mixture by means of a camels hair brush dipped into the mixture and then moved over the surface of the film, the latter is next cut on two sides. This having been accomplished, a sheet of absorbent paper is placed upon the face of the film, and the cornerresulting from the cut is urged gently against the under-side of the paper. Then, by gently raising the paper, as shown in Fig. 7, the adhering film may be removed completely from the glass plate. The film is then put aside to dry and may. subsequently be cut up into various sizes. The glass plate only requires to be scraped a little with a-knife and may then be placed in position for conveyance by the first rope conveyer through the preliminary coating process, drying, etc. The process outlined is thus conducted continuously and the series of film supports are preferably kept following as closely upon one another as is feasible for handling and conducting the various operations necessary.

The solvents used in the strippingsolution penetrate the film and thus loosen it from the background upon which it rests. The wax used in the stripping solution serves not only to prevent the too rapid evaporation of the volatile solvents before they have accomplished their work, but it also acts as a size in itself. It further prevents the adhesion of the film to the dies when it is employed in stamping. The process is an exceedingly simple one and practically unskilled labor may be depended upon to carry it through. The handling of the film as it emerges from the drying chamber is an advantageous step, for the film at that time may be inspected, and if, as sometimes happens, there iscause for its rejection, it may then be thrown out. The processof spraying, drying, stripping, etc., may be carried on with great rapidity, and with the apparatus shown with great efiiciency. The film produced, using the formula named for the film-forming mixture, is of exceptional luster and brilhancy, and has a relatively great adhesive property. The film may be handled before drying, or afterward, with no danger of its breaking up, and possesses generally, in a high degree, the characteristics set forth as the objects of applicants invention.

It will thus be seen that I have achieved among others the objects of my invention heretofore set forth.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The process of preparing a thin film or leaf which comprises spraying a film support with a solution of wax in a volatile solvent, driving off the volatile solvent, spraying a film-forming material onto said support,- and stripping the resultant film from the support.

2. The process of preparing a thin film or leaf which comprises spraying a film support with a solution of wax in a volatile solvent, driving off the volatile solvent, spraying a film-forming material onto said support, coating the resultant film with a remover layer comprising a solution of wax in a volatile solvent, the solution being more dilute than the first mentioned solution, and stripping the film from the support.

3. The process of preparing a thin film or leaf which comprises spraying a hard transparent support with a film-forming material and stripping the resultant film from the support.

4. The process of preparing a thin film or leaf which comprises spraying a sheet of glass with a protective coating, spraying a film-forming substance thereon, and stripping the resultant film therefrom.

5. The process of preparing a thin film or leaf which comprises the following steps: spraying a sheet of glass with a protective coating containing a volatile solvent, driving off the volatile solvent, spraying a filmforming material upon the glass so treated,

messes volatile selvent, spraying a film-forming material upon the glass so treated, treating the resultant film with a second coating of wax and volatile solvent, and stripping the film from the glass.

7. The continuous process of preparing a thin film or leaf which comprises spraying a glass plate with a protective substance formed of gasolene and beeswax, driving ofl the gasolene, spraying the glass so coated with a solution consisting of soluble cotton, a metallic coloring matter, gum elemi, and a volatile solvent, driving off the volatile solvent, treatingv the resultant film with a remover substance consisting of beeswax dis solved in a volatilesolvent, placing anabsorbent material upon the face of the film, stripping the film from the glass plate and returning the plate for spraying with the protective substance.

8. The step in the process of removing a thin leaf or film from a glass plate which consists in treating the glass plate with a solution containing wax and a volatile solvent. I

9. Thestep in the process of removing a thin leaf or film from a glass plate which consists in treatingtheglass plate with a solution containing beeswax and. gasolene.

10. The step in the process of removing a thin leaf or film from a support which consists in treating the film with a solution containing a volatile solvent and a isubstanc soluble therein.

11. The step in the process of removing a thin leaf or film from a support which consists in treating the film with a solution con- Eaining a wax and a volatile solvent there- 'or. p

12. The step in the process of removing a thin leaf or film from a support which consists in treating a film with a solution containing beeswax, gasolene, and amylacetate.

13. The process of preparing a thin film or leaf which comprises spraying a glass support with a film, determining the thickness of the film by the passage of light therethrough, and stripping the resultant film therefrom.

KARL E. OLSON. Witnesses:

Jos. L. ORME, OLIVER WILLIAMS. 

